It was only last year when Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Johnthan Banks received a devastating news which could have greatly affected his career and life as well.

Last October, Banks was diagnosed with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) along with a couple of other Bucs player including offensive lineman Carl Nicks and kicker Lawrence Tynes.

According to Banks "It's a life-threatening disease. I was very scared."

Both Nicks and Tynes are no longer with the organization and no news has been heard whether either of them will be returning to playing in the NFL.

Banks said "Seeing Tynes. His career [might be] over. Mine is just starting."

Adding "It was a frightening time. Could I give it to my son? To my wife?"

When the news of Banks getting infected with MRSA, the NFL immediately sent out a statement saying that there is no risk of infection. He was cleared to play that weekend, against the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 13. Banks had five tackles in that game, which was then a career-high for him.

Banks said "Our trainers did a really good job with me."

Bucs brought in specialist Deverick Anderson from Duke University for consultation on the matter.

The MRSA is common than many people think. The Center for Disease Control reports about 2 percent of Americans are carriers, most without ever knowing it. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is caused by a strain of staph bacteria that's become resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat ordinary staph infections. Most MRSA infections occur in people who've been in hospitals or other health care settings, such as nursing homes and dialysis centers.

Infection can spread through shared towels, handshakes and whirlpools. MRSA has hit several NFL teams over the past decade - 33 infections leaguewide from 2006 to 2008 alone, according to an AP report.

Former defensive lineman Brandon Noble, who was one of five Redskins players diagnosed with MRSA in 2006 said "That's one of the scariest things about it: I don't know where I got it. It lives in places where you are as a football player. It lives in dirty towels and gross lockers and all the things I've seen for years and years."

For now, Banks would be considered a rare case in NFL: an MRSA victim who never missed a game and hasn't seemed to miss a step.

Banks cheered "I don't have MRSA anymore. I'm having fun."